South · AR
Arkansas special education IEP compliance and timelines
Governing regulations: 005.18.10 Ark. Code R. § 001 (Special Education Procedural Requirements and Program Standards). State education agency: Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- Initial evaluation
- Initial evaluation procedures must be completed within 60 calendar days of receiving written parental consent.
- Initial IEP meeting
- An Evaluation/Programming Conference must be held within 30 calendar days of completing testing to decide eligibility and, if eligible, develop the IEP. (005.18.10 Ark. Code R. § 001)
- Annual review
- At least once every 365 days (34 CFR § 300.324(b)(1)).
- Reevaluation
- At least every 3 years unless the parent and LEA agree it is unnecessary, and not more than once a year without agreement (34 CFR § 300.303).
- Transition planning
- Must be in effect by age 16.
- Academic standards
- Arkansas Academic Standards
- IEP forms & systems
- No single mandated IEP platform; LEAs use vendor systems on DESE-issued forms and report through the state special education data system.
Where Arkansas differs from the federal baseline
- Arkansas combines eligibility and IEP development into one Evaluation/Programming Conference held within 30 days of completed testing.
- Consent for initial evaluation is never treated as consent for initial services; a separate written consent is required.
- Arkansas dyslexia law (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-601 et seq.) requires screening and dyslexia intervention separate from special education eligibility.
- DESE publishes standard special education forms that LEAs use or adapt.
Current monitoring priorities
- Indicator 11 timely initial evaluations
- Evaluation/Programming Conference documentation
- Indicator 13 secondary transition IEP content
AR IEP compliance checklist
- 01Signed consent date recorded; evaluation due within 60 calendar days.
- 02Eligibility determined and initial IEP meeting scheduled: An Evaluation/Programming Conference must be held within 30 calendar days of completing testing to decide eligibility and, if eligible, develop the IEP.
- 03PLAAFP includes measurable baselines and a statement of how the disability affects involvement in the general curriculum (34 CFR § 300.320(a)(1)).
- 04Each annual goal is measurable, with condition, behavior, criterion and measurement method (§ 300.320(a)(2)).
- 05Progress reporting schedule stated for each goal (§ 300.320(a)(3)).
- 06Transition goals and services in effect by age 16 where applicable.
- 07Prior Written Notice issued for every proposal or refusal, with all seven § 300.503(b) elements.
- 08Annual review scheduled within 365 days; reevaluation within 3 years.
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